Tony Sparano not panicking: I’ve been 0-5 before

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 6, 2011, 8:47 AM EST

AP

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano says he’s not ready to panic with his team at 0-4, noting that he’s been in worse situations before.

“As a head coach I’ve been in this situation a few times, not necessarily only as a head coach,” Sparano said. “I was 0-5 with Marty Schottenheimer in Washington. That’s a hard place to be 0-5. No place is good. We won our last eight of whatever it was.”

Sparano is referring to the 2001 season, when he was tight ends coach on Schottenheimer’s Redskins staff. That year the Redskins lost their first five games, then won their next five games.

“So, I mean, I’ve been in some of those situations where it’s bounced around,” Sparano said. “It just takes a win to get yourself going and right now that’s all we’re worried about. We’re worried about making our football team better, using this time to develop some of our players here and figure out to win a game.”

Sparano is certainly right that the 2001 Redskins are an example of a team that can turn things around and start playing competitive football after a terrible start. Of course, Sparano probably doesn’t want to take the analogy too far. At the end of that season, the Redskins were 8-8 and out of the playoffs, and Schottenheimer and the staff — including Sparano — got fired.

Just the fact you’ve been 0-5 before should say something. Oh well, when he does get cut loose, he can always go work for Mr. Weaver in Jacksonville. They dont even care about drafting quality players, let alone fielding a competitive team. Heck he should last a decade there.

Given the lockout and lack of OTA’s I expected some teams to get off to a slow start (Miami, Philly,Dallas)
As long as these teams keep perspective and keep working, things will turn around for them. Whether they make the playoffs or not that’s a different story. Of course it doesn’t help Tony that he’s also lost his starting quarterback already.

Listen, The great Bill Parcells handpicked him, so he must be ok. Just think of Parcells coaching tree besides Belichick. Charlie Weis…nuff said. Romeo Crennell…nuff said. Al Groh…nuff said. So shut up and be grateful!

justentertainingthestupid says:
Oct 6, 2011 9:00 AM
Given the lockout and lack of OTA’s I expected some teams to get off to a slow start (Miami, Philly,Dallas)
As long as these teams keep perspective and keep working, things will turn around for them. Whether they make the playoffs or not that’s a different story. Of course it doesn’t help Tony that he’s also lost his starting quarterback already.
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I would like to hear your rationale for why these particular teams would be inordinately effected by conditions that applied to every team in the league.

I would have thought that these three teams in particular, all with the same basic systems, coaches, and personnel that they ran out there last year, would have done a better job handling the abbreviated off season, not a worse job.

Not saying you’re wrong, I would just be interested in what would have led you to believe that these types of teams would struggle more than others.

Too bad neither he nor Schottenheimer should have been fired in Washington after that kind of turnaround. They were winning with Tony Banks for goodness sake, but stupid Danny fell in love with Spurrier. I’m glad Snyder has since learned to stay out of the way and let a coach run the team the way it’s supposed to be ran.

I am comforted by the fact that Tony has been on lots of bad teams! Maybe he can heal Henne’s shoulder, cure Marshall’s mental illness and rehabilitate Davis, but if he isn’t a healer then he should start to worry. Henne, his boy, is down and Moore has no back up! Nolan Carol and Will Allen are playing every down! The 4-man DL isn’t any better than the 3-man line! The LB’s are out of gas! Tony! It’s time to worry! KC looks like the next game wrack win!

So, in order to build confidence in the team and in the job he’s doing, he brags about all the times he’s been winless?? If you ask that question to Belicheck, he’d just put his hands full of rings up on your desk and not say anything.

Very sad when you can state “I’ve been 0-5 before” with any team. Just listen to Sparano’s tone and that tells you he feels this is acceptable coaching. I am completely over player lack of motivitation for an excuse. You are the coach Tony…dammit coach them!

Ah, 2001 – I’ve been trying to remember what year it was when Monday Night Football featured the 0-5 Cowboys against the 0-5 Redskins. I recall the announcers in the pregame commenting on how it was a shame that somebody was going to have to win this game (unless they tied)…

Not very inspiring comments (for the players or fans). I kinda feel bad for the guy (with the Dolphins’ owners, he’s limited in how much success he can have). But, a few weeks ago, wasn’t he the coach who basically admitted to being clueless on how to change the ‘Fins losing ways?

He makes the Texans’ Gary Kubiak seem like a coaching genius (didn’t think that was possible!!).